The Healer;🐉

That day, the dark clouds over the town had lifted somewhat. With the energy the sun provided, everyone seemed to warm up.

A giant tree in the town square had begun to be decorated. The town's children were placing colorful ornaments with their families. Eva was enjoying this Christmas atmosphere with Elly. The two friends walked around the town square, each holding a coffee.

People's attitudes toward Eva were better now than when she first came to town. They had accepted that she wasn't leaving. At least they weren't frowning and chasing her away from places anymore. Perhaps because only days remained until Christmas, a bit of Christmas spirit had rubbed off on these grumpy people.

"I want to celebrate Christmas Eve with you too," Elly said, sipping her coffee.

Eva sniffled her reddened nose from the cold and took a sip of her coffee. "I don't know what will happen to me on Christmas Eve, maybe I'll turn into a rattlesnake too," she said, curving her neck and hissing, "Tssssss."

Elly was laughing. "So you're saying you'll continue on your way as a new species."

"No, the townspeople see me as a snake, maybe that's my true form," she said.

Elly laughed and linked arms with her. "I'll love you even in that form, my friend," she said, then began giggling with deep laughter.

She understood she was laughing at something else.

"What? What is it?" Eva laughed.

"In my imagination, a wigged, small-faced viper appeared, I can't help laughing at it," she said.

Eva's eyes flew wide open. "If the snake seemed cute, imagine a woman completely engulfed in purple flames. How about that? Are you still sure you want to celebrate Christmas with me?"

"I'm sure," Elly laughed.

Eva said with a mocking expression, "If I accidentally burn you, Elly barbecue will be on our Christmas menu, I take no responsibility."

Now these two young women's girlish joy filled the sidewalks.

Nearly a week had passed since they met with Nancy. In the following days, life had slowed down somewhat for Eva. Kael could call out to her but he had kept his word. He stayed away unless Eva wanted him. At night, she felt him outside. But she hadn't seen him again since that day. She wondered if the dagger wound on his shoulder had healed. But then she remembered he was a supernatural being and didn't worry.

So why did her heart ache? For days, it was as if she had returned to her old life, far from the chaos and all these cursed events. But what was bothering her? Her curiosity about Kael? Or was she missing him?

She shook her head and pulled away from her thoughts. She was trying to accept both the town and herself as they were. Did she have powers? Was she a witch? Whatever it was, she would live and see. But most importantly, no matter what anyone said, she trusted her grandmother. And she had wanted her to experience this Christmas here, with Christmas spirit. That's exactly what she was going to do.

Soon after, they sat on the bench in the middle of the town square. As they sipped their coffees, she turned toward the sun illuminating the square from behind a few clouds and wanted to soak up some sun.

Elly was laughing along with her. But this peaceful moment was suddenly broken by a loud noise. The entire atmosphere changed in an instant. When Eva lifted her head and looked, she saw children running around in fear. Several of the logs piled in the town square had fallen on a child who was playing.

Eva and Elly ran with the townspeople to help the child. But the logs were so heavy that even several people together couldn't lift them. One of them shouted, "We need a lever, we need a machine, bring whatever you can find!" he cried out.

The child was writhing in pain. Elly rushed around frantically—could she find anything to help? Eva went to the child and tried to calm him. Just then, she noticed his arms and legs beginning to turn purple. His breathing was stopping. She was now certain there could be a life-threatening danger from the pressure on him. She was aware the child would die here within a few minutes. But she was destroying herself because there was nothing she could do.

Soon Elly came to them. Eva asked curiously, "Did you find it, did you find something?"

There was deep sadness in Elly's eyes. "No, there's no construction equipment, no lever nearby."

"God, what are we going to do?" Eva thought. For the first time in her life, she felt such deep helplessness. It was happening right before her eyes and she was watching helplessly.

Just then, Joe's jeep stopped with a loud noise. Joe immediately got out of the vehicle and ran closer. The townspeople first got scared and moved away from him. But then when they realized he was here to help, they wanted to help him.

Joe grabbed the log but his strength wasn't enough. Soon his wild claws showed themselves and he gripped the log tightly. Then suddenly the log moved and was lifted and thrown off the child.

Everyone was staring at him in astonishment. Eva was also watching him, holding her breath.

The expression on Joe's face wasn't that of a bad man.

At that moment she thought, so who would Eva trust? Her intuition? The prophecies?

Eva rushed to the child in panic, his body had turned purple. It was clear the life-threatening danger continued. Eva immediately ran and knelt to help him.

The child's mother shouted in fear, "No, don't touch him!"

Eva said, "No, no, I want to help. Please let me. We don't have time."

The woman watched her with fearful eyes but was aware she had no other choice.

Eva listened to the child's heartbeat and began CPR. But the child's pulse was very low. His breathing had slowed considerably.

Then as Eva was doing chest compressions on the child's heart, she felt something under her hand. Like a flow. Like a tiny wind. She closed her eyes. She placed her hands on his heart. And her lips involuntarily murmured something. Something she herself didn't understand.

Everyone was looking at her with deep sadness on their faces. Eva released that flow from her fingertips into him. The child's body began to return to its natural color immediately, starting from her fingertips.

About a few seconds later, suddenly the child coughed with a deep breath.

Everyone was watching him in astonishment. When Eva opened her eyes, she saw the purple shimmering fire in her hands. But this time this fire didn't burn the child. She supposed she had learned that her powers could be used in different ways.

The townspeople first with fear, then with curiosity, and then with cries of joy began to embrace Eva. Even though Eva couldn't make sense of all the emotions she was experiencing, she carried the happiness of having helped a child and of being properly understood by the town for the first time.

Soon the town doctor had arrived. Looking at what was described and at the massive log before him, he wondered how the child was still alive. Since Eva was a nurse, she explained the medical symptoms she had observed. But... The doctor was amazed that the child could be this well.

Eva was in a dazed state. Her legs were trembling. It was as if all the energy in her body had drained away. She took a few steps backward and just as she was about to fall, a strong arm caught her around the waist. When she turned her head, she saw Joe.

"Lean on me," Joe said. There was a genuinely worried expression on his face.

Eva insisted, "No, I can walk by myself." But after taking one more step, she completely collapsed to the ground.

Joe caught her and took her in his arms.

Elly ran to them. "Eva! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

"I'm weak, I don't understand what's happening to me," Eva said.

Elly was guessing, the spell she had cast had used all her power. But she was proud of her for what she had done. "I'm proud of you, my friend. The child is alive, that child is alive," she murmured.

Joe pulled out a drink from his bag and handed it to her. "This will make you feel a bit better," he said.

Eva said, "Thank you, no, I don't want to drink it."

"Come on, please. I have no intention of poisoning you," he said with a smile.

Eva raised her eyebrows and looked at him. His face had that roguish, sly smile again.

"Actually, come to think of it, you're one of the interesting people who could poison me, so I wouldn't be surprised," Eva said.

Joe leaned toward her, getting close to her nose. "Don't you think I've had countless opportunities to do that?" he asked. The man's scent had filled from her nose all the way to her lungs. She couldn't make sense of the tingling surrounding her body.

She swallowed and turned her head.

Joe, laughing at her reaction, said, "If I wanted to harm you, I would have done it already. So drink this, it's just apple juice."

Eva felt very weak, finally she took it and opened the bottle. After drinking a little, she really did feel better.

At that time, Elly's mother, who had been shopping, had also come to the town square. "For God's sake Elly, what happened here?" Everyone was talking about what had just happened. People were watching Eva with attentive gazes. Some were scared, some looked grateful, and some were curious.

Elly said, "There was a big accident, mom, but the child is fine now."

Her mother's gaze suddenly changed, "Elly, your father! Let's save your father! Did you call for help?" she began shouting.

Eva was stunned. "What's going on?" she murmured...